Success Story

Care and awareness about the environment are principles the University of St. Thomas faculty impart on students and the Houston community. Salt + Light Television, in partnership with the UST Environmental Science and Studies Department, addresses why it is essential to care about the environment in a new six-part documentary series titled “Creation…and God saw that it was good.” The first 30-minute episode will feature numerous UST faculty members including Sister Damien Marie Savino, FSE, assistant professor and chair of ESS.

“This episode focuses on the idea that awe and wonder are the foundation for environmental stewardship and for cultivating a wholesome relationship with creation,” Sister Damien Marie said. “We talk in the film about learning the ‘language of creation’ as a Franciscan approach to environmental stewardship.”

The Rev. Ted Baenziger, CSB, assistant professor of French literature and civilization, will speak on his work with orchids. Dr. James Clarage, physics chair, will speak on his work with protein structures. Dr. Ann Fairbanks, professor of music, will speak on music and creation. Dr. Albert Ribes-Zamora, assistant professor of biology, will speak on developmental biology and evolution. Sister Damien Marie will speak on ecology and faith.

Also, students Andrew Hite and Celine Simmons, who are joint majors in environmental studies and communication, assisted with the filming and interview transcriptions as part of their internship course for their degrees. The UST campus and Galveston-Houston area are featured in the film.

“The collaboration between the Environmental Science and Studies Department and Salt + Light has benefitted and will continue to benefit UST in a number of ways,” Sister Damien Marie said. “The episode could be used for educational purposes in both science and theology classes and in synthesis courses for the core. UST has desired a collaboration with Salt + Light, and this is a concrete step toward it.”

The TV premiere is at 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. CDT on Dec. 2. The program will repeat at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. CDT on Dec. 5. To view the program, go to SaltAndLightTV.org and click on the "Watch Live" link when the program airs.